Last Lecture

I have enjoyed my business class of learning different ideas in being an Entrepreneur this past semester. I learned many different points of views throughout the 14 weeks that will be life lessons in my personal business module and implement in my future. I feel I learned the most from reading the book “The Ministry of Business.” I loved how this book talked about many things that I like to have my personal and business life to model. First and foremost, having my Heavenly Father involved in all my dealings. I feel my family is blessed because I involved “Him” in my life. I also feel that everyone of us must have a mentor to look up to. If we have no one to implement after and use valuable things we learned from them and improve from what mistakes they made and learned from, then we will not become better. Most important is that financial fitness will help everyone be able to not be enslaved to debt. Debt controls us and if continue to let it control us, we will never have control of what we really want and dream in our lives. When we are free, we then can give back to our communities and help those in need. I feel that being an entrepreneur and bringing life to your ideas you have had in your mind come into fruition because you made a product or have an amazing idea to improve something, will help our world. Good entrepreneurs are needed and wanted. If I have anything to give to others for advice, would find happiness in what you want to be and do for a job/career. If you are not happy, you will never realize your dreams! I found my happiness, luckily when I was younger in being a Realtor. I love helping others and understand my industry well. I also can have my own schedule and my income is based on what I want to put into my business with my time management. I know when we have joy in our daily lives and live life to the fullest by what we enjoy, you will be so happy.

Attitude of Gratitude

This week I learned a lot about finding happiness in what we want in a job. We had many videos and examples this week that talked about this specific topic. The best one I liked was President Thomas S. Monson that we need to have Attitude of Gratitude. I feel that this is a vital part we need in all our lives. If we do not have Gratitude, I feel we will not have happiness and joy in our lives. We have so many people in our lives that have touched our lives in so many ways. I am grateful that I have come across these kinds of people in my lives that taught me so many things that modeled me to be me. My parents, my young women leaders, my co-workers, my friends, my neighbors and my husband. I pray that I can be the kind of example to teach my children the right way to be grateful for what they have learned in life and most importantly that they know their Heavenly Father loves them. As President Monson, said, we need to be grateful for our mothers and fathers, then teachers. I hope we have shown them the way to a grateful heart.

What is Business For?

This week in my Entrepreneurial class we read “What’s a Business For?” by Charles Handy. This book was quite an interesting read. It talked about how cooperate scandals are on the rise and like the book title- what is a business for? We were asked to answer some questions to the dilemma that is in the article below: Based on what you read in the first two pages, why are virtue and integrity so vital to an economy? I feel that rules are not being followed these days. It seems like everyone that runs a big company, is in it for themselves. It seems that CEO’s are not being honest. They are taking for their gain and trust is not like it used to be. Having trust in business, especially peoples trust, will make the consumer trust in the company more. I feel if running a business, you have to have your employees trust first, then the consumer/public. If you are genuine and real, others will believe in your company and product. According to Charles Handy, what is the real justification for the existence of businesses? The purpose of a business, is not to make a profit. IT is to make a profit so that the business can do something more or better. “That something” becomes the real justification for the business. Owners know this and investors do not care. What are two solutions proposed by Handy that you agree with and Why? I agree that the behavior needs to change in the coporate behavior and have a new vision. Companies are built to accomplish what others can’t do separately. Contributions is a motivating force. Footprints need to be set and purpose in life needs to be redefined. Creative is the key, spreading technology and raising productivity makes things affordable for the public and keeps costs down. Doing good is the answer!

Attitude of Money

This past week I read a great article called Attitude on Money by Stephen W. Gibson. He had some great insights and thoughts on how everyone looks at money differently. My instructor in my business class asked all his students to think of a couple of questions and give our answers below. What is my attitude on money? I would have to say that my attitude has changed dramatically the past year. I used to not want to talk at all about money, it actually scared me. I wanted to ignore it everyway that I possible could. We had a job loss and money wasn’t what it was, and I didn’t want to face reality and to find out we needed to have a budget. This was really hard for me. Now I think we need it to survive and to plan for our future. It is a necessity to get back on our feet financially and to have freedom this way in our lives. How can my view of money affect the way I live my life? Like I said above, we need to be prepared for a rainy day in our finances. We were and glad we did, but now we are rebuilding this goal again. These kind of feelings cause resentment and hurt. I want to be better in being positive with money and its benefits. What rules are recommended for prospering? Stephen Gibson gave the following 6 rules: 1. Seek the Lord and have hope in him; 2. Keep the commandments, that includes the temporal ones, tithing and fast offerings; 3. Think about money and plan how you can become self-reliant 4. Take advantage of chances for learning so you will not be ignorant of these matters. Education is the Key to Opportunity (President Hinkley); 5. Learn the laws upon which the blessings of wealth are predicated; 6. Do not send away the naked, the hungry, the thirsty or the sick or those who are held captive.

Surround Yourself with Greatness!

In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 it reads: Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Reading the Hero’s Journey this week in chapter 4 I learned-How can I build up myself and others? I need to ask these questions: Do I have companions who will help “keep me awake” on the journey? Where is my most dangerous blind spot? What has kept me from overcoming this weakness? How can I overcome it or compensate for it? How can I enlist the aid of someone who is strong in areas where I am weak? I need faithful companions who help me on my journey. Am I such a companion to others? How can I protect and nurture the relationships I already have? During hard times- who would continue to stand by me? Who will run?

Leadership with having the gospel

I really enjoyed the Leadership with a small “L” talk that Kim B. Clark gave at BYU in December 2007. I wanted to keep his thoughts he shared to reflect often on how to be a better leader in my life, when I have the Lord as my example. The Savior’s life is full of wonderful examples and powerful principles of just this kind of leadership. I would like to share with you today three principles of leadership that are important in any place you will work, but are especially powerful in leading a family. I know that all of you will need these principles in your lives. Principle #1: Lead by Example The Savior established this principle when He said, “what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.”2 One of the most important things that leaders do is what they do. In your family, your most powerful influence on your children will be the example of your life. That example includes the actions that you take and the principles and values that guide you. Your children will watch you very, very closely. They will learn from you and follow your example—(eventually!). This is wonderful news! It means that you can lead your children in the paths of righteousness. I know you all want your children to be obedient and faithful, to love the Lord, to have the Spirit in their lives, to receive their temple blessings, to build an eternal family, and to bless you with grandchildren! The best way to lead them in that path is to be in that path yourselves. You teach your children to obey the commandments of God by keeping the commandments of God. It is important to talk with them and tell them what you are doing and why. But it is in the doing that there is real power to shape their lives. If you want to teach them to love the temple and to see its power and importance, put pictures of the temples on your walls, have lessons about the temple in family home evening, and go to the temple often. In this, and every other gospel principle, your life can be a living model of what you want your children to be. Principle #2: Lead with Vision The Savior used this principle all throughout His ministry on earth, and He uses it now. On many, many occasions he prefaced a parable with the words, “The kingdom of heaven is like . . .”3 and then He would connect a principle from familiar day-to-day life with salvation in His kingdom. He always held before His disciples, and holds before us, the ultimate purpose of our work and our lives. He gives us the vision of what we should do in our daily lives and what we might accomplish eternally if we will follow Him. One of the most important things that leaders do is to help the people they lead understand the larger meaning and purpose of their daily work. In your family this means teaching your children how cleaning their rooms, doing their homework, keeping the commandments, and learning to love each other is connected to exaltation in the celestial kingdom as an eternal family. It means filling your home with the Spirit. It means putting pictures of the Savior on the wall along with pictures of your family and teaching your children the connection between them and the Savior. But it may also mean leading your family through times of grief and pain caused by death or illness. It may mean teaching them and showing them that staying the course, moving forward despite the pain, is deeply connected to your family’s eternal destiny. Principle #3: Lead with Love The Savior’s life, suffering, and death are testimony of His perfect love for us. Everything He has done for us, He has done because of His great love for His Father and His perfect love for us. There is a powerful principle of leadership in John’s words about the Savior’s love: “We love him, because he first loved us.”4 Effective small “L” leaders learn to energize the people around them through love in action. To you mothers and fathers and prospective mothers and fathers, the very most important thing you can do for your children is to love each other and support each other and help each other become everything Heavenly Father wants you to be. You stand before God and your children as husband and wife, father and mother, equal partners in the sacred responsibility of creating an eternal family. As the leaders of your family and faithful disciples of Christ, you will put love into action. You will care for your children and nurture them. Every week in family home evening you will teach them to love and serve one another and to keep the commandments God. You will support them and encourage them and love them enough to put structure and discipline in their lives. You will pray with them and read the scriptures with them every day. You will lead them with love. In conclusion, I would like to leave you with a request and my testimony. Here is the request: When you leave here today, please take the Spirit of Ricks with you. Please take BYU–Idaho and what it means and what it stands for with you. You now represent the university. I hope and pray that wherever you go, whatever you do, the people around you will see in you the principles and the purposes of BYU–Idaho and will feel the Spirit that is on this campus.

Becoming a Great Entrepreneur

This past week I have learned so much about entrepreneurship in business. I have always loved the Mormon message that Jeffrey R. Holland talked about his life back as a young father and being postponed on his trip to go across country for a new pursuit in life. Twice he was delayed with his old car and almost the same place. He learned he needed to make a change in what he was doing, and the change was a new radiator in his car. This made me think that in business we are always learning and growing, and this makes us better in our pursuit in being the best we can be. I also learned some great thoughts I want to remember from the book “A Heroes Journey” by Jeff Sandefer. “When faced with problems, are you willing to try?” “Focus on your purpose, not on the present darkness. Remember your dream!” Being an entrepreneur is not an easy task and to be successful right off the bat in starting a business. Starting your business will be more downs then ups at first, but I learned that best thing is not to give up on your first hardship, your second or even your fiftieth. We don’t succeed, if not always learning and becoming better.